Nov. 9, 2010

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. - A pair of Illinois sophomores will miss time early in the season for separate reasons. Forward Kersten Magrum will miss approximately six weeks with a stress injury in her foot that requires surgery, while guard Adrienne GodBold will serve a six-game suspension for violating team rules.

"Obviously, losing these two young ladies is a big blow to our team early in the season," fourth-year Illini head coach Jolette Law said. "However, I have the utmost confidence that the rest of the team will step up in the absence of their teammates."

Magrum will have surgery on Wednesday and hopes to return in late December prior to Big Ten play. She emerged as a key player for the Illini during the second half of last season, starting the last 15 games and averaging 6.9 points per game during that span.

"Kersten has stepped up as one of our team leaders this year," Law said. "I feel for her because I know how much she was looking forward to getting this season started. I also know that she'll bounce back stronger than ever from this and will be ready to help us make a run in the Big Ten."

GodBold, meanwhile, should be eligible to return to action during the Hawai'i tournament over Thanksgiving weekend after sitting out tonight's exhibition game and the first five regular-season games. She averaged 5.6 points and 2.5 rebounds per game last year as the Illini's first sub off the bench.

"As a representative of the University of Illinois, there are certain standards that our student-athletes must meet," Law said of GodBold. "Adrienne made a mistake, but she is a great kid who I know will take this time to reflect on her actions and learn from them."

The Fighting Illini will play their lone exhibition game tonight against Kentucky Wesleyan at 6 p.m. The regular season opens on Friday, when Illinois State comes to Assembly Hall in a rematch of last year's WNIT quarterfinal game.